The Growth of Open Source eCommerce Platforms

Creating a resilient e-commerce website requires a significant amount of investment, particularly if you require advanced features or multiple plugins. For many merchants, affording such a large investment is not feasible, which is why they may opt for Open Source eCommerce Platforms. It offers many benefits to startups and established businesses and one significant benefit is reducing expenses. The major advantage is flexibility.

Let us first understand what is e-commerce, what are benefits of opensource e-commerce platforms, why Open Source E-commerce platforms are in demand now, and how they can help businesses.

What is e-commerce?

Electronic commerce, commonly referred to as e-commerce, involves the exchange of goods and services over the internet and other electronic networks. It encompasses a variety of transactions, such as online shopping, online banking, online ticketing, and online auctions. E-commerce enables businesses to conduct online store operations, expand their customer base, and provide consumers with convenient purchasing options from any location and at any time.

The advent of e-commerce has enabled businesses to broaden their customer base and operate 24/7. This not only saves time and effort but also allows consumers to purchase from any location and compare offerings from different vendors.

E-commerce transactions are categorized as business-to-consumer (B2C), business-to-business (B2B), and consumer-to-consumer (C2C) depending on the parties involved. Online shopping offers numerous payment options such as credit cards, electronic wallets, and bank wire transfers. Shipping and delivery options range from standard to expedited and even same-day delivery.

What is an Open Source e-Commerce Platform and what does it do?

An open-source eCommerce platform is a software system that is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. It is designed to facilitate online sales of products and services, and it typically includes features such as product management, shopping cart functionality, checkout and payment processing, and order management. Because it is open source, developers can access and modify the source code to customize the platform to meet their specific business needs. Open-source eCommerce platforms are often community-driven, with developers collaborating to improve and update the software over time. Popular examples of open-source eCommerce platforms include Magento, WooCommerce, and OpenCart.

To satisfy customer expectations in today’s market, it is crucial for businesses to develop an online presence. It is also crucial to build an online store that caters to the needs of the customers. The ability to reach clients anywhere in the world at any time due to the internet has made it an essential component of the business. Setting up and managing an online store, however, may be challenging, particularly for smaller and medium-sized businesses. To address this challenge, several businesses have resorted to open-source e-commerce systems.

By employing their free and open codebase to adapt and personalize their online store to their own demands, merchants can benefit from open source eCommerce platforms. This can give a more affordable option than building a custom e-commerce platform from the ground up, as well as flexibility and control over the look and feel of the website. Moreover, Open Source eCommerce Platforms frequently have a supportive developer community that offers updates, improvements, and support, which can lower maintenance costs and raise the general caliber of the online business.

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Benefits of Open Source E-commerce platforms

When it comes to setting up and running an online store, many companies turn to open source ecommerce platforms. Because of the open-source nature of its development, users of these platforms have full access to the software’s source code and can tailor it to their individual requirements. It is precisely this adaptability that makes open source e-commerce solutions so appealing.

1. It is adaptable and can be modified:

Several advantages can be gained by using an open source e-commerce platform. Modularity is a major plus. As a result of the platform’s flexibility, open source e-commerce solutions can be adapted to meet the unique requirements of any given organization. The web shop’s appearance, functionality, and compatibility with external applications are all things that can be modified in this way. Because of their adaptability, open source e-commerce systems can be used by companies of varying sizes and in a wide variety of fields.

2. Cost Effective:

Open-source e-commerce platforms are advantageous since they save money. When opposed to proprietary ecommerce platforms, open source alternatives might be a financial boon for enterprises. Yet, there are still costs that must be incurred by businesses in order to have an operational online store.

3. Look and Functionality:

In addition, open-source e-commerce systems give businesses greater control over the appearance and functionality of their online storefronts. By having access to the platform’s source code, businesses can make any necessary modifications to the open-source e-commerce system. This feature can be highly beneficial for companies with specific requirements or those looking to distinguish themselves in the market.

4. Community Support:

Companies who use open-source e-commerce platforms have access to a sizable user base that can serve as a resource for questions and advice. A vast number of programmers, designers, and users collaborate on open-source e-commerce platforms. Businesses may rely on the help of this neighborhood.

Features Offered by Open Source E-commerce Platforms

Open source ecommerce platforms offer a range of features that enable businesses to build and run online stores efficiently. These features include

1. Customizable design:

Open source ecommerce platforms come with a range of templates and themes that can be customized to create a unique look and feel for an online store. These themes can be modified using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

2. Product management:

Open source ecommerce platforms enable businesses to add, edit, and manage products on their online store. They provide tools for managing inventory, tracking sales, and creating product categories.

3. Payment gateway integration:

Open source ecommerce platforms enable businesses to integrate with a range of payment gateways, allowing customers to make secure online payments using credit cards, PayPal, and other payment methods.

4. Order management:

Open source ecommerce platforms provide tools for managing orders, including tracking order status, processing refunds, and generating shipping labels.

5. Marketing and SEO:

Open source ecommerce platforms provide tools for optimizing an online store for search engines and promoting products through email campaigns, social media, and other channels.

6. Analytics and reporting:

Open source ecommerce platforms provide tools for tracking sales and customer behavior, enabling businesses to make data-driven decisions.

Some Latest Statistics: Open Source E commerce Platforms

Global e commerce sales have reached approximately 4.9 trillion US dollars in 2021 and it is projected to grow by 50% in the next 4 years. According to Statista by 2025 the figure will reach 7.4 trillion dollars and the global e commerce market is growing at a compound annual growth of 14.7% (2020 – 2027).

• According to BuiltWith, as of March 2023, the top 3 open source eCommerce platforms globally are WooCommerce, Magento, and OpenCart.
• WooCommerce, a popular open source eCommerce platform built on WordPress, powers over 28% of all online stores globally, according to Datanyze.
• Magento, another widely used open source eCommerce platform, powers over 12% of all online stores worldwide, according to Datanyze.
• OpenCart, an open source eCommerce platform built on PHP, powers over 5% of all online stores globally, according to BuiltWith.
• The popularity of open source eCommerce platforms is expected to continue to grow, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.5% from 2021 to 2026, according to MarketsandMarkets.
• The global COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the shift towards online shopping, with eCommerce sales growing by 27.6% globally in 2020, according to eMarketer. This has further boosted the adoption of open source eCommerce platforms as businesses look to establish an online presence.
• WooCommerce Checkout and Shopify have emerged as the dominant players in the ecommerce market, accounting for a majority of the share among the top 1 million sites. Previously, Magento used to be the market leader, but it currently owns only 7% of the global ecommerce market.
• The ecommerce industry has witnessed significant growth in recent years, resulting in an increase in adoption rates for various platforms. For example, in 2018, WooCommerce Checkout had a market share of around 21%, which has now increased to 23% in 2023.
• Shopify is the second-most-used platform among the top 1 million sites, with a market share of 20%. Its global market share stands at 11%, while WooCommerce dominates with a market share of 23%.

One notable change is the decline in Magento’s market share from 13% in 2018 to 7% in 2023. This can be attributed to the increased complexity of the platform compared to simpler alternatives that are now available in the market.

Leading Open Source E- Commerce Platforms

Establishing an online presence is essential for modern businesses seeking to reach customers globally. One effective strategy for launching and managing an online store is to utilize an open-source eCommerce platform. These platforms are built using open-source technology, which means that users can freely access the platform’s source code and customize it to meet their specific requirements. In the following sections, we will introduce you to the top 10 open-source eCommerce platforms currently available.

1. WooCommerce

WooCommerce is an open-source e-commerce platform designed specifically for WordPress, the most widely used content management system. It offers a user-friendly and convenient platform for businesses to launch their own online stores, complete with features for managing inventory, customer service, and financial transactions.

To help businesses establish their brand identity, WooCommerce provides a range of themes and plugins. It also seamlessly integrates with other WordPress plugins, such as email marketing and social media platforms, and includes robust product marketing features like cross-selling and upselling. WooCommerce is a popular choice for businesses of all sizes due to its intuitive interface and comprehensive documentation.

2. Magento

Magento is a popular e-commerce platform because it can be easily customized and expanded. Features like inventory management, order tracking, and secure payment gateway integration are only the beginning of what this e-commerce platform has to offer. It’s highly modifiable, with several different skins and add-ons to choose from so that the platform may be adapted to any company’s unique requirements.

Magento’s scalability is one of the platform’s most notable advantages. It’s perfect for enterprises of any size thanks to its scalability and ability to deal with massive product catalogs and voluminous visitor numbers. It also provides capabilities like localized language and currency support, as well as shipping and tax configurations tailored to certain regions.

Magento is a robust and versatile e-commerce platform, ideal for enterprises of all kinds, especially those with complicated needs and big amounts of traffic. It is used by a wide variety of e-commerce sites thanks to its adaptability, flexibility, and depth of features.

3. OpenCart

OpenCart is a well-liked e-commerce platform that is both free and easy to implement. Features like inventory management, order tracking, and secure payment gateway integration are only the beginning of what this e-commerce platform has to offer. It’s highly modifiable, with several different skins and add-ons to choose from so that the platform may be adapted to any company’s unique requirements. The intuitive layout of OpenCart is one of its greatest strengths. It requires little to no technical knowledge to install and use, and the admin dashboard is straightforward. In addition, it provides a number of promotional tools—discounts and specials, for example—that can boost a company’s bottom line.

Because of OpenCart’s robust user and developer base, merchants may access a variety of information and assistance to help them succeed. There is a wide variety of third-party plugins and integrations available, in addition to extensive documentation, forums, and tutorials. OpenCart is a simple and inexpensive e-commerce platform that may meet the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises that want to open an online store. Because of its low price, wide array of features, and ease of use, it is often used by e-commerce sites.

4. PrestaShop

PrestaShop is a popular e-commerce platform because of its versatility and user-friendliness, plus it’s free and open source. Features like inventory management, order tracking, and secure payment gateway integration are only the beginning of what this e-commerce platform has to offer. With a wide variety of available themes and modules, the platform may be adapted to meet the demands of any given organization. PrestaShop’s intuitive layout is a major selling point.

PrestaShop’s modular design allows stores to pick and choose the features they need, rather than having to pay for those they won’t use. It also provides capabilities like localized language and currency support, as well as shipping and tax configurations tailored to certain regions. Because of PrestaShop’s developer and user base, businesses can tap into a plethora of resources and expertise. There are many third-party modules and connectors available, as well as extensive documentation, forums, and tutorials.

5. osCommerce

Since the year 2000, osCommerce has been in existence as an open-source e-commerce solution. Features like inventory management, order tracking, and secure payment gateway integration are only the beginning of what this e-commerce platform has to offer. It’s very modifiable, with a wide variety of premade layouts and supplemental features to choose from.

The stability of osCommerce is a major advantage. From its inception more than two decades ago, a sizable and engaged group of developers and users has worked together to shape and improve it. It implies there is a lot of help and information for companies that use the platform.

As a whole, osCommerce is an excellent e-commerce platform that can scale with your company without breaking the bank. Several e-commerce sites opt for it because of its reliability, flexibility, and variety of features.

6. Zen Cart

Zen Cart is a popular e-commerce platform because of its adaptability and ease of use. Features like inventory management, order tracking, and secure payment gateway integration are only the beginning of what this e-commerce platform has to offer. It’s very modifiable, with a wide variety of premade layouts and supplemental features to choose from. Zen Cart’s flexibility allows merchants to create a site that meets their needs exactly, without having to upgrade to a more robust plan. It also provides capabilities like localized language and currency support, as well as shipping and tax configurations tailored to certain regions.

In sum, Zen Cart is an e-commerce platform that can be scaled to the needs of any business. It’s favored by many e-commerce sites because of its user-friendliness, adaptability, and abundance of features.

7. Spree Commerce

Spree Commerce is a free and open-source e-commerce solution based on the Ruby on Rails foundation. Features like inventory management, order tracking, and secure payment gateway integration are only the beginning of what this e-commerce platform has to offer. With a wide variety of extensions and connectors, the platform may be adapted to meet the unique requirements of any given organization.

Spree Commerce’s adaptability is a major plus. Because to its modular design, organizations can pick and choose the features and expansions they require without having to pay for those that aren’t used. In addition, it includes a number of marketing tools, such as sales and discounts, that can boost a company’s bottom line. All things considered, Spree Commerce is an e-commerce platform that can grow with your company. It is favored by many e-commerce sites due to its adaptability, flexibility, and variety of features.

8. Drupal Commerce

A free and open source e-commerce solution, Drupal Commerce is based on the popular Drupal CMS. Features like inventory management, order tracking, and secure payment gateway integration are only the beginning of what this e-commerce platform has to offer. A wide variety of modules and themes allow the platform to be adapted to the individual requirements of any organization.

The fact that Drupal Commerce can leverage Drupal’s built-in content management features is a major plus. Because of this, a company just needs one system to run its online store and its website. In addition, it includes a number of marketing tools, such as sales and discounts, that can boost a company’s bottom line.

Due to its scalability, Drupal Commerce is capable of handling massive transaction and visitor volumes. Drupal Commerce is an e-commerce platform that can grow with your business. Several e-commerce sites like it because Drupal’s content management tools, flexibility, and extensibility make it easy to adapt to specific business needs.

9. Saleor

Saleor is a free and open-source e-commerce platform developed with the Python programming language and the Django web framework. Features like inventory management, order tracking, and secure payment gateway integration are only the beginning of what this e-commerce platform has to offer. It’s incredibly flexible, with numerous add-ons and skins to choose from so that the platform may be adapted to the demands of any given enterprise.

The adaptability of Saleor is a major advantage. Because to its plugin system and flexible architecture, organizations only need to pay for the capabilities they really use. In addition, it includes a number of marketing tools, such as sales and discounts, that can boost a company’s bottom line. All things considered, Saleor is an e-commerce platform that can grow with your company. It is favored by many e-commerce sites due to its adaptability, flexibility, and variety of features.

10. Sylius

Sylius is a free and open source e-commerce solution based on the Symfony PHP framework. Features like inventory management, order tracking, and secure payment gateway integration are only the beginning of what this e-commerce platform has to offer. It’s incredibly flexible, with numerous add-ons and skins to choose from so that the platform may be adapted to the demands of any given enterprise.

Sylius’s modular design is one of its greatest strengths. It’s built to be very adaptable, so businesses can pick and choose the features and plugins they require without having to pay for those they don’t use. In addition, it includes a number of marketing tools, such as sales and discounts, that can boost a company’s bottom line.

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Some common use cases: OpenSource eCommerce Platforms

1.Educational institutions

Open source eCommerce platforms are being used more frequently by educational institutions to market online courses, textbooks, items, and event tickets. Online courses and e-learning resources are available from a wide range of educational institutions. Online course delivery and sales can be handled seamlessly by open source eCommerce systems like Moodle and Open edX. Colleges can use these platforms to offer self-paced or instructor-led courses and take money online.

Educational institutions can use open source eCommerce platforms to sell branded merchandise such as t-shirts, caps, and bags. These platforms allow institutions to create online stores that integrate with their existing website, making it easy for students, alumni, and supporters to purchase merchandise. They can create customized event pages with registration forms, ticket options, and payment gateways.

Open source eCommerce platforms can be used by educational institutions to raise funds for various initiatives. For example, they can sell customized products, accept donations, or offer premium memberships to generate revenue. Open source eCommerce platforms can be used to create an online bookstore that offers the same products and services. This can help institutions reach a wider audience and generate additional revenue.

Overall, open source eCommerce platforms provide educational institutions with a flexible and cost-effective way to sell products and services online. They can be customized to meet specific business requirements and integrated with existing systems, making them an attractive option for institutions of all sizes.

2. Developers and Agencies:

Developers and agencies are using open source eCommerce platforms to create custom solutions for their clients. Open source eCommerce platforms provide developers and agencies with the flexibility to customize the code and create unique online stores that meet specific business requirements. This allows them to build custom solutions for their clients that cater to their specific needs.

Open source eCommerce platforms can be easily integrated with third-party systems such as payment gateways, shipping providers, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. This allows developers and agencies to create a seamless user experience for their clients. Open source eCommerce platforms are often more cost-effective than enterprise-level eCommerce solutions. This makes them an attractive option for small and medium-sized businesses that have a limited budget.

open source eCommerce platforms provide developers and agencies with the freedom and flexibility to create custom solutions for their clients that meet specific business requirements.

3. Non-Profits:

Non-profits are increasingly using open source eCommerce platforms to accept donations, sell merchandise, and raise funds for their cause. They can create customized donation forms, integrate with payment gateways, and track donations in real-time. This allows them to easily collect donations from supporters around the world.

Non-profits can use open source eCommerce platforms to sell branded merchandise such as t-shirts, mugs, and stickers. They can create online stores that integrate with their existing website, making it easy for supporters to purchase merchandise and show their support. It can be used to raise funds for various initiatives. For example, they can sell customized products, accept donations, or offer premium memberships to generate revenue.

They can create customized event pages with registration forms, ticket options, and payment gateways and also manage memberships and subscriptions. They can create customized membership plans, accept payments online, and track member activity in real-time. So, open source eCommerce platforms provide non-profits with a flexible and cost-effective way to raise funds and generate revenue for their cause. They can be customized to meet specific business requirements and integrated with existing systems, making them an attractive option for non-profits of all sizes.

Conclusion

The e commerce market is growing at a rapid pace and it has become a key source of income for many businesses. Adapting to the needs of the customers is vital and customers are becoming very demanding, businesses can benefit from an adaptable and customized solution for building and maintaining their online stores with the help of open source e-commerce platforms. These platforms help businesses of all kinds develop a solid online presence and boost sales with a variety of tools for managing products, orders, and payments.

Compared to closed-source platforms which can be costly and require regular updates, open-source e-commerce platforms are mostly free to use. They offer the flexibility to customize your online store according to your preferences. While some platforms may be complex and confusing for non-developers, there are options available that do not require any coding experience.

**The primary author of this article is our contractual staff writer – Sakshi John.